public housing new york

Lawmakers Seek to Ban Biometric Recognition Technology in Public Housing

The legislation, which would ban facial recognition entry systems, would be the first to address what technology landlords can impose on residents.

  • By Haley Samsel
  • Jul 26, 2019

Three Democratic congresswomen are pushing for a ban on the use of biometric and facial recognition technology in federally funded public and assisted housing with the aim of “protecting tenants from biased surveillance technology.”

The No Biometric Barriers Housing Act was introduced on Thursday by Reps. Ayanna Pressley (D-Massachusetts), Yvette Clarke (D-New York) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Michigan) amid a growing national debate about the role of facial recognition technology in society, particularly by law enforcement.

There is currently no federal law on the books regulating the use of facial recognition technology by police departments or other public institutions, such as housing funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This makes Pressley’s bill the first to address what technology landlords can impose on residents.

“Vulnerable communities are constantly being policed, profiled, and punished, and facial recognition technology will only make it worse,” Pressley said in a statement.

“Program biases misidentify women and people of color and yet, the technology continues to go unregulated,” she added, referring to research and testing that shows facial recognition technology is less accurate for women and people of color.

Read more: Orlando Police Department Ends Facial Recognition Pilot Program With Amazon

Along with a ban on facial recognition, the bill would require HUD to write and submit a report to Congress that analyzes any known uses of facial recognition in public housing, the purpose of installing technology in those units and the impact of the software on tenants’ civil rights.

For Tlaib and Clarke, the fight over facial recognition software has become a local priority in recent months. In Clarke’s Brooklyn district, over 130 tenants filed legal opposition against their landlord in May after the building sought to install a facial recognition entry system.

Those tenants argued that the system would violate their privacy rights and could lock out black, brown and female residents from their own homes, according to a release from Legal Services NYC. This bill would not affect the Brooklyn building or the company that owns it since the apartments are not public housing.

Clarke said the community uproar was a catalyst for her to craft legislation that addressed concerns about facial recognition surveillance, a system she called “flawed.”

“Someone living in public housing should not be the guinea pig for the emerging technology of biometric facial screening just to enter their own home,” Clarke said.

Tlaib’s Detroit district has also been at the center of a debate over police use of facial recognition software in a city-wide video surveillance program, referred to as Project Greenlight. Police officials there have said they only use facial recognition to investigate violent crimes and do not arrest anyone solely on the basis of a match within the system.

Read more: Opposition to Government Use of Facial Recognition Technology Grows in Detroit

The federal legislation co-sponsored by Tlaib would affect the program since some of Project Greenlight’s high-definition cameras are set up at public housing complexes, according to The Detroit Metro Times.

“We’ve heard from privacy experts, researchers who study facial recognition technology and community members who have well-founded concerns about the implementation of this technology and its implications for racial justice,” Tlaib said. “We cannot allow residents of HUD funded properties to be criminalized and marginalized with the use of biometric products like facial recognition technology.

Tlaib and Pressley are both members of “The Squad,” a group of four freshmen Democratic women of color in the House that also includes Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York). The quartet has been in the headlines in recent weeks for their ongoing feud with President Donald Trump.

Featured

  • Security Industry Association Announces the 2026 Security Megatrends

    The Security Industry Association (SIA) has identified and forecasted the 2026 Security Megatrends, which form the basis of SIA’s signature annual Security Megatrends report defining the top 10 factors influencing both near- and long-term change in the global security industry. Read Now

  • The Future of Access Control: Cloud-Based Solutions for Safer Workplaces

    Access controls have revolutionized the way we protect our people, assets and operations. Gone are the days of cumbersome keychains and the security liabilities they introduced, but it’s a mistake to think that their evolution has reached its peak. Read Now

  • A Look at AI

    Large language models (LLMs) have taken the world by storm. Within months of OpenAI launching its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, it amassed more than 100 million users, making it the fastest-growing consumer application in history. Read Now

  • First, Do No Harm: Responsibly Applying Artificial Intelligence

    It was 2022 when early LLMs (Large Language Models) brought the term “AI” into mainstream public consciousness and since then, we’ve seen security corporations and integrators attempt to develop their solutions and sales pitches around the biggest tech boom of the 21st century. However, not all “artificial intelligence” is equally suitable for security applications, and it’s essential for end users to remain vigilant in understanding how their solutions are utilizing AI. Read Now

  • Improve Incident Response With Intelligent Cloud Video Surveillance

    Video surveillance is a vital part of business security, helping institutions protect against everyday threats for increased employee, customer, and student safety. However, many outdated surveillance solutions lack the ability to offer immediate insights into critical incidents. This slows down investigations and limits how effectively teams can respond to situations, creating greater risks for the organization. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.